Valencia: The Book Fair makes its grand debut in Valencia

It's a new date to mark in the annual calendar of reading enthusiasts. For the first time, a Book Fair will be held in Valencia on the weekend of November 2 and 3, at the Palais des Congrès et des Expositions. At the meeting of this novelty, 31 authors will be brought together for a series of exchanges and debates around current events, international and contemporary politics, but also about technical and psychological sciences. This show specializes around literary essays, with the following leitmotif: “When ideas enlighten the world!”. At the same time, the invited writers have at least all released a work in the last six months, and will therefore be able to present them, discuss them but also dedicate them to the public. Among this audience of authors, Valence will welcome within its walls Hubert Védrine (former minister of foreign affairs under Chirac) author of a Atlas of Crises and Conflictsthe editorialist Franz-Olivier Giesbert and his work on the V^e République, the scientist Aurélie Jean and her latest publication The code has changed or the paleoanthropologist Pascal Picq, who has just written a work on artificial intelligence AI, the philosopher and the anthropologist. A conference specifically around this book will take place at the François Mitterrand media library on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m., in the presence of the author. Immediately, at the same place, a second exchange will take place. It will be with Margot Fried-Filliozat, author and sexologist, as part of a meeting around her latest book, The five languages ​​of sex.

A reception capacity set at 1,000 people

For the occasion, the auditorium as well as the Émilie-Augier and Théodore-Jouvet spaces of the Palais des Congrès will be taken over. Objective: to ensure that “more than 600 people can listen to debates continuously throughout the day”and accommodate up to 1,000 people simultaneously across the entire site, according to Frédéric Garnier. The founder of MPO saw his Nice events agency chosen by the City of Valence to structure this first edition, due to its expertise in planning book fairs, and more broadly cultural events. To give an idea, MPO organizes the Nice Book Festival, which lasts three days.

A unique event

At the origin of this initiative, the Valence municipality was granted support from the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and Valence-Romans agglo (with the expertise of its tourism branch). A collaboration resulting in an investment of 105,000 euros for the organization of the event over two days. Local elected officials promise a unique event of its kind. Nicolas Daragon in the lead. During a press conference organized on October 21, Mayor LR of Valence mentioned “a very big literary event that we want to make long-term”. This one promises to be “one of a kind” according to his cultural assistant Marie-Françoise Pascal.

Through this new event, the City of Valencia is focusing on the exchange of knowledge, but above all hopes to make this literature accessible to a wider audience. Like the numerous quizzes scheduled throughout the weekend at the François Mitterrand media library in Valence, and hosted by the librarians on site. In addition, the Salon collaborates with three independent bookstores based in Valence (L'Etincelle, L'Oiseau Siffleur and Notre Temps), to manage the event. Enough to give this first edition its local touch.

Practical Free entry Hours: Saturday 2 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday 3 from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.